Principle of Mathematical Induction
This is the definition, theorem and proof of the mathematical induction for Real Analysis tutorial.
This is the definition, theorem and proof of the mathematical induction for Real Analysis tutorial.
The principle of mathematical induction is defined as follows:
(1) If $p(n)$ denotes proposition that depends on $n$.
(2) For $n=1$, then $p_1$ is true, restricted to $1$.
(3) $p(n+1)$ is true whenever $p(n)$ is true.
Below is a theorem and proof of the mathematical induction that will be helpful in understanding theory of mathematical induction.
Theorem: Let $A\subset{\mathbb{N}}$ so that $1\in{A}$ and for every natural number $n$, if $n\in{A}$ then so also is $n+1$. Then $A=\mathbb{N}$.
Proof: To proof this theorem is pretty simple. We simply let $E=\mathbb{N}\backslash{A}$, so that $E=\phi$ and then it follows that $A=\mathbb{N}$ which proves the theorem.
Now we proof by contradiction. suppose $A\notin{\phi}$, by the well ordering property theorem there is a first element $\alpha$ of $A$. Now we ask a question, can $\alpha=1$? No, because by hypothesis $1\in{A}$. Thus $\alpha-1$ is also a natural number and, since it cannot be in $A$ it must be in $A$. By hypothesis it also follows that $\alpha=(\alpha-1)+1$ must be in $A$. But it is $E$. This is impossible and so we have obtained a contradiction, which proves our theorem.
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